We recently launched our 2nd donated non-profit website (see the 1st) for 2008, this time for the Lynnda Laubach Breast Cancer Awareness Ride.  This growing event offers a day of fun while raising money for the Cancer Center at Regions Hospital.  The main event is the 100 mile motorcycle ride and the evening ends with two LIVE bands and a pizza dinner in Rogers, MN.

The 4th annual event is on September 20th and you can see all of the details on the website.  Five Technology is very proud to be included as a sponsor for our web design work for the event and wish everyone a great time while supporting a great cause.

Visit the event website:  http://www.thebreastcancerride.org

The past few months Five has been very fortunate to land some great new web design projects. The initial creative and design process is always full of fun, energy and challenges.

Below is just a sampling from four of our current web projects in the works. These designs are being integrated into our SMC content management system. Stay tuned for future posts on how they turned out and the specific web design, development and marketing aspects they included.

Maybe this has sparked your creative juices?  If so, feel free to let us know you might be thinking about a website redesign.

I get the question in many meetings to compare why thousands of dollars spent with Five Technology is better than using one of the template web design options or a packaged web solution.  Of course you get what you pay for, but here is a little question I fire back.  Would you go through a drive-thru to order a website from McWebsite’s?

Yes I get a laugh, but then I also break down what I’m talking about.

Guidance, Experience & Communication
With Five or another custom web design firm, you get experienced web professionals asking questions, making recommendations and helping you understand why things should or can be done a specific way.  A McWebsite just takes the order and cares nothing for the specifics of your business, the target market, the future needs and so many other important areas to explore.  They are after the 1 Billion served. I know for a fact my clients learn how to better leverage their website, not just feel good that they have one.

A Menu Or A Solution
As the web continues to get more crowded, your competitors get a bit more savvy and consumers/clients are harder to get to, you need to stand out.  Getting a #4 value meal is going to do little to distinguish your business, provide features users need and scalability your site will grow upon.  One size does not fit all.  When you work with a web design firm you get a solution that is built around opportunities, goals and needs.  It’s built for you, for your website’s users, not to be sold 100 times over.

Gut Rot
Ever had that feeling?  A McWebsite can do this to you as you look back and realize the time lost, the leads lost, search engine position given to your competitors.  You may not have spent much upfront, but you have lost plenty of money in the mean time.

So if you are considering the quick and easy way to feed your need for a new website, consider the health of your business and make the right choice.  Say no to McWebsites.

Otto Transfer hauls the big things others can’t.  Giant telephone poles and other oversized loads are the common freight for Otto’s trucking and hauling services.

Owner Kevin Otto came to Five with two needs.  One was to get a professional website up and the other was to make it a valuable resource for his cusotmers and staff by adding online account management and quoting.  Kevin had tried to put up a Yahoo “do-it-yourself” website a while back and it didn’t quite cut it.  Five’s web design services went to work and created a professional, clean and branded design to show that Otto is a successful and experienced Minnesota trucking company.

Online Quoting & Account Management
Kevin’s idea to streamline quoting and account management through the website was a great idea.  Now his clients can get access to past quotes, pending quotes and submit new ones with ease.  The Otto Transfer staff can update statuses, price out quotes and take advantage of admin features that let them search similar quotes for a faster pricing process.  Easier for the customer and easier for Otto, thats a win-win.  Here are a few sample screenshots from the log-in and account management screen.

We’re pleased with the project outcome and Otto Transfer is too.  This project is a good illustration of web design and web development working to mesh a good looking design with a fantastic business tool. If you see one of their oversized loads on the highway, get out of the way.  This trucking company is going places.

If you have a business process you want to bring online, give us a holler.

Five has a few web design projects that are getting ready to go LIVE in the next few weeks so I thought I would give you a sneak peek. If you are in need of a great Minnesota web design firm, holler at us!

Besides looking good, these sites have functionality including e-commerce, an account/user management system and more.